… Ibese Plant donates solar-powered Borehole

No fewer than 30 youths from communities around Ibese in Ogun State have graduated from a training program put together by Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant as a way of transforming society and providing employment opportunities for the youths.

The empowerment program which afforded the youths the opportunity to be trained on domestic electrical installation, wiring, and maintenance is aimed at accelerating the social and economic development of host communities and is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

In the same vein, the Cement plant commissioned a solar-powered Borehole in Abule Oke in Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State in fulfillment of its promises made to the communities during its Community Day celebration last December.

The youths were also presented with start-up tools for immediate commencement of their vocation after the training which was put in place by the Ibese Plant in partnership with Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

General Manager, Human Assets Managemnet/Admin, Alh. Abu Sufyan (left) exchanging pleasantries with the Baale of Abule Oke, Chief Ramon Akinsanya at the Commissioning and Handover ceremony of a Solar Powered Borehole donated by Dangote Cement to Abule Oke community to the admiration of HRM Oba Lukmon Kuoye, Olu of Imasayi (2nd left) and Plant Director, Dangote Cement Plant Ibese, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin (2ND right).

Addressing the beneficiaries at the closing ceremony of the program, the Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant Director, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, described the empowerment initiative as a demonstration of the Company’s commitment to the continued socio-economic development of the host communities in line with the Community Development Agreement signed in 2022.

According to him, the Company’s social development strategy “does not support giving people fish to eat but focuses on teaching people how to fish saying the Company was being proactive by engaging the community members, especially the youths with so much energy and vigour.  “Rather we empower them to be self-sufficient and self-reliant”.

Mr. Azad reeled out past empowerment initiatives of the Plant aimed at reducing unemployment gaps in the local communities and ultimately improving the standard of living, which include training in catering and event management, tailoring and fashion design, and Acutherapy, from which 275 indigent youths have so far benefitted.

He commended the beneficiaries for their determination and zeal to learn new skills to better their lives and urged them to apply the technical and entrepreneurial knowledge garnered during the training in building sustainable businesses while committing to continued development of their skills and expertise in line with global trends.

Plant Director, Dangote Cement, Ibese, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin (2nd right) presenting starter packs to one of the beneficiaries while the GM, HAM/Admin, Alh. Abu Sufyan(right) and Deputy Area Manager, ITF, Ogun State, Mrs. Funmi Coker (left) watch.

The Deputy Area Manager, Industrial Training Fund Abeokuta Area Office, Mrs. Funmi Coker, commended Dangote Cement Plc Ibese Plant for devoting resources to develop the capacity of the Youths in relevant trade areas to make them useful for themselves and their immediate communities. She further appreciated the Company’s consistent collaboration to achieve the Nation’s training objectives, while charging other corporate bodies to follow suit.

Mr.Dayo Ogunyinka, the Vice Chairman of the Community Joint Consultative Committee also expressed delight for the Company’s annual empowerment initiative. He enjoined the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a life-changing opportunity with the capability to take them to the pinnacle of success and ensure that the starter packs received are used for the intended purpose.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Elegbede Ganiyat, from Iboro host community appreciated Dangote Cement for considering it worthy to invest in the development of the youths and described her experience during the training as enriching and everlasting. She assured that the beneficiaries have been well prepared to carve a niche for themselves in the electrical services market in their locality and beyond.

Meanwhile, the Cement Company has handed over a multi-million naira solar-powered borehole to the people of Abule-Oke, a host community at a ceremony witnessed by the Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye; the Baale of Abule Oke, Chief Ramoni Akinsanya other community leaders, youths, women and other indigenes.

Speaking during the hand-over, the Plant Director, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin emphasized the essentiality of water to the survival of humans and advised the community to make good use of the borehole facility and put up a framework to ensure its security, maintenance, and sustenance as their equity contribution to the project.

The Olu of Imasayi commended the Management of Dangote Cement for “being the transformer illuminating the entire Yewaland’’ while acknowledging the commitment of the Company to improving the standard of living of people in its host communities. He charged the people of Abule Oke to ensure that the borehole facility is sustained such that coming generations can benefit from the project, as only the judicious use of the facility can encourage the Company to invest more in infrastructural developments in the community.

The people of Abule Oke were full of gratitude to the Company for the provision of the water facility, as expressed by the youth leader, Mr. Rafiu Akinola who declared that the intervention was timely and value-adding, especially considering the fact that it is powered by Solar thus saving the community of the cost of fueling and maintenance of the generator.

By Olusola Okunlade 

There is a strong indication that the economy may be heading towards further economic growth, as His Excellency, Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, CON, FCIB, President and Chairman Board of Directors, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will be discussing critical issues that will give further insights into the economic transformation of Africa at the 2023 Annual Lecture of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 10:00 am at the Grand Banquet Hall, Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The theme of the Lecture is “Unlocking the Constraints to Africa’s Economic Transformation: Insights into the Power of Capital” and will be facilitated by Professor Oramah who is the Guest Speaker of the event.

The CIBN Annual Lecture is a public enlightenment program aimed at keeping members of the public constantly abreast of topical economic issues and policies of government at the national and international levels. This year’s edition of the Lecture will assemble chieftains of the banking and finance industry, top public officials, foreign diplomats, members of the academia, top executives of the organised private sector as well as other stakeholders in the Nigerian economy who will dimension and articulate clear strategies on how to address the impediments to Africa’s economic development.

In a bid to ensure that Nigerians from all walks of life benefit from the conversation, the Institute has made the program free of charge for participants.

Over the years, the event has attracted globally respected scholars and professionals such as Honourable Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, CON, (Rtd), the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Professor John C. Anyanwu, former Lead Research Economist, African Development Bank; the late Professor Dora Akunyili, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC); Sir Ademola Benjamin Aladekomo, Founder and Chairman, CHAMS Plc; Dr. Andrew Hilton, Director and Joint Founder, Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation(CSFI) United Kingdom; Professor Osita Ogbu, OON, former Minister of National Planning and Chief Economic adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, CON, President, African Development Bank; Mr. Michael Lafferty, Founder and Chairman, the Lafferty Group; Professor Kingsley C. Moghalu, Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the Founder of Sogato Strategies LLC; Mr. George Lewis, Chairman and Portfolio Manager, Royal Bank of Canada(RBC); Professor Melvin Ayogu, ACIB, Fellow, Mapungubwe Institute of Strategic Reflection, South Africa among others.

To ensure that this year’s event is unique and impactful, the Institute has set up an Implementation Supervisory Committee, chaired by Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, FCIB, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc. Other members of the Committee are Dr. Adaeze Udensi, Managing Director, Titan Trust Bank; Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, Director, Trade and Exchange, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Abubakar A. Bello, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM); and Mr. Ekene Uzor, Special Assistant to the President on Banking and Strategy, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

Ken Opara, Ph.D., FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN is the Chief Host of the occasion while Akin Morakinyo, HCIB, Registrar/CE, CIBN is the host of the Occasion.

Executive Director, Commercial, NASCON Allied Industries, Fatima Aliko Dangote has revealed that the Dangote Group has invested in innovative technologies and processes to achieve gender equality and empowerment of all women in the organisation.

Besides, Fatima disclosed that women are playing pivotal roles in the success story of the Dangote Group. To drive transformative change, she said the company is implementing the policy of continuous improvement in its production processes with state-of-the-art production facilities, which are already being managed by women.

Speaking while opening the International Women’s Day Conference in Lagos and Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Fatima noted that the company, through its Learning Management System (LMS), offers employees a variety of resources and opportunities that help them advance their professional and personal development.

According to her, these learning and development offerings cover vast focus areas and are provided via on-the-job, classroom, and online learning platforms, to both permanent and temporary employees across all cadres, in the Group’s Nigerian and Pan-African operations.

“At the plants, we have the Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) for online analysis, robotic laboratory, and fully automated central control room system equipped with Human Machine Interface technology (HMI) and innovative solutions to drive resource efficiency, process optimisation and mitigate the environmental footprints of our products while delivering quality products that meet the needs of our esteemed customers,” she added.

Fatima explained that Dangote Women’s Network through this year’s theme has provided a unique opportunity to holistically examine the theme of innovation and technology from a gender perspective.

“We are inspired by our superheroes in STEM, and we hope this session increases your awareness of innovation, technology, and digital education, driven by women for women, and learn advancements in digital technology that address how we rethink our daily lives and achieve our personal and professional goals.

“I would like to encourage our women with a few tips on leveraging technology, Equipping yourselves academically and technically, be inspired and inspire others by creating opportunities for regular interactions with female STEM champions and leaders and tapping into opportunities for hands-on experience in the form of volunteering”, she added.

Speaking also, Co-Founder/COO Piggy/Vest NG, Odunayo Eweniyi said technology plays a key role and can support women in their daily responsibilities either as a mother or as a worker.  She said it’s never too early to introduce girls to technology and that supporting their passion early can lead to meaningful careers in the future.

She urged the Dangote Cement Group not to relent in its Gender Balance Policy, especially as it relates to encouraging qualified women in the business of cement production.

Chief Enterprises Business Officer, MTN Nigeria Mrs. Lynda Saint said women’s condition can be improved through innovative technology. She encouraged parents to expose their female children to science and technology as the world has embraced technology and innovation in every aspect of the organisation.

Giving a vote of thanks at the end of the conference, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Dangote Industries Limited, Nglan Niat commended the speakers for sharing their valuable thoughts and insights with the Dangote team.

“Today marks International Women’s Day 2023, a day set aside to take stock and reflect on how far we have come in tackling gender disparity and also to recognise how much we must go to achieve equality and equity in our workplace. Having female representation at all levels of the company is essential as it contributes to a good working environment and better quality of work. That is what we are striving to achieve. The technology industry has been male-dominated, so we need to work harder to ensure that women are properly supported,” she added.

Chairperson of the Dangote Women Network at the DCP Obajana, Mrs. Fatima Kabir Ikunaiye said the Network began operation in 2017, and since then it has carried out several interventional programmes in the cause of women. Some of the programmes, Mrs. Ikunaiye said include: support for orphanages and vulnerable homes, sensitisation and empowerment of women as well as training them on skill acquisition.